Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones said Tuesday he must make changes in his second term to maintain residents’ approval.

Jones, along with his Calumet City Democrats United slate, declared the mayor’s win Tuesday night. Jones said he expected a close race with Ald. James Patton in the mayoral primary, but plans to use the election results to “make adjustments” in his next term.

“When elections come around, everybody wants everything and we just got to put in perspective what the city can do right now financially and what we’ve got to do to take us to another level,” Jones said.

“The city can’t stay like it is. We’ve got to spend money; we’ve got to get our housing stock together. So we’ve got to come up with a plan to do all of that.”

Jones received 2,326 votes, or 60%, compared to 1,533 votes for Patton, according to unofficial results from the Cook County clerk’s office. Calumet City filings show no challenger to the Democratic nominee in the April 1 election.

In a one-vote race, Melissa Phillips was ahead of incumbent Anthony Smith for Ward 7 alderman with 265 votes to Smith’s 264. Smith said Wednesday that Cook County continues to count up to 200 mail-in ballots, and he is confident that he will hold on to the seat he has held for eight years.

“I’m fairly surprised,” Smith said. “But until all the results are in from mail-ins, I’m still hopeful that I will prevail.”

Smith said he believes he has fulfilled his campaign promise to boost economic development but understands that record high property taxes may have influenced voter decision making.

Members of Jones’ slate who led their races, according to unofficial results, were Shalisa Harvey in the 1st Ward, with 173 votes to incumbent Ald. Michael Navarrette’s 148, according to unofficial results. Miacole Nelson in the 6th Ward had 295 votes to Garnadette Stuckey’s 248.

Several incumbents on Patton’s slate led based on unofficial results. Second Ward Ald. Monet Wilson had 499 votes to challenger Erica Jenkins’ 421, and 5th Ward Ald. Dejuan Gardner with 422 votes, or 77%, over Roger Munda. City Clerk Nyota Figgs had 2,019 votes compared to challenger Cassandra Hobert Elston’s 1,812.

Patton concedes

At the Calumet City VFW Tuesday night, Patton thanked the packed bar of supporters for their aid in his efforts to unseat Jones. He congratulated Jones and said he tried to call the mayor but was unable to reach him.

“Eleven months ago, I stood just in that room over there and set out on a journey that many told me was impossible,” Patton said to his supporters.

“I gave up my seat on the City Council to run this year because I truly believed we needed a different direction in this community,” he said.

Patton is Ward 6 alderman and over the past four years questioned the city’s contract bidding process, disputed thousands of dollars of spending Jones charged to a municipal credit card and called a special meeting outdoors to dismiss a lawsuit Jones brought against the city clerk.

He maintains that Jones’ primary residence is not in Calumet City, as is required by law, and that Jones’ other position as Illinois state representative engenders conflicts of interest and a general lack of accountability.

‘Fight for what’s right’

Throughout the campaign, Patton and others on his slate spoke out against divisive tactics and what they say is misinformation spread by Jones’ slate. Wilson said in a social media post that on Election Day she received “10 racially charged hate-filled text messages” targeting Patton.

“If the roles were reversed and you were Black, the outcry would have been deafening,” Wilson said in a Facebook post Wednesday addressing Patton. “Your steadfast courage during these trying times showed true leadership, and I commend you for standing firm when so many others could or would not.”

Wilson also said she believed residents would feel remorse for their decision to reelect Jones “when they realize that nothing has truly changed.” She encouraged people to speak during public comment period at the next council meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday at 204 Pulaski Road.

“Tell Mayor Jones that we will no longer accept his vile texts or divisive rhetoric,” Wilson said.

Jones said Tuesday he hopes the people rooting against him reflect on the results and see that “the voters are telling us they want to keep the city on the right track.”

“All of the crap that happened in the last four years has got to stop,” Jones said.

Neither 3rd Ward Ald. DeAndre Tillman nor 4th Ward Ald. Ramonde Williams faced primary challenges, but supported Jones at his election party Tuesday night. Williams expressed disappointment at the losses of “some colleagues that I’ve worked with for many years” but said he is ready to work with “anybody, as long as our focus is moving the city forward.”

Jones also said he plans to work with everyone elected to the council, but said he is “not afraid of a fight for our residents.”

“I’m also not afraid of a fight for what’s right in government, and that’s more important than anything right now.”

ostevens@chicagotribune.com